Rolling process and mill therefor



Nov. 28, 1933- R. o. FARMER ROLLING PROCESS AND MILL THEREFOR 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1930 INVENTOR M ATTQRNEYS Nov. 28, 1933. R. o. FARMER 1,

ROLLING PROCESS AND MILL THEREFOR Original Filed Aug. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. '28, 1933 ROWING PRGCIESS AND ml THEREFQiE Richard 9. Farmer, Seymour, Conn... assimior to Rolling Process, line... New York, N. 32., a cor= pcration of Delaware Application August a, rest, strains. cameo Renewed March 24, 3333 M Claims. (rill. 29 B?) This invention relates to a process and apparatus for rolling metals, and more particiilarly to a new and improved system for controlling the heat distribution of the rolls and for controlling the slippage of the rolls with respect to the metal.

The invention is particularly applicable to the rolling of ductile metals, such as copper and provides for treating a wide copper sheet for effecting a reduction in cross sectional area of from 15 to 35% in a single pass depending upon the hardness and previous treatment of the sheet.

The invention is particularly applicable to rolling mills in which slightly crowned rolls are utilized, the rolls being sprung into a straight line contact'with the sheet metal when the working pressure is applied thereto. The linear contact is maintained by so controlling the heat distribution of the roll that uneven expansion thereof is avoided. This is accomplished by applying a suitable cooling medium and lubricant to the sheet under treatment and distributing the cooling medium along the sheet in the quantities required to extract the necessary amount of heat from the rolls. The cooling medium is also varied as to distribution, quantity and substance, to control the slippage between the sheet and the roll whereby comparatively heavy pressure may be employed without tearing the sheet, particularly during the final passes when the sheet becomes comparatively thin.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which I Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rolling mill constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of F -'1;

Fig. 3 isa diagrammatic view of the rolling mill showing the means for applying cooling medium to the rolls;

Fig. 4 is a broken longitudinal section of one of the rolls; and

Fig. 5.15 a transverse section of a bearing showing the arrangement of the cooling channels.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring'to the drawings more in detail the invention isshown as applied to a rolling mill of the two-high type comprising a frame 10 carrying housing 11 in which the rolls 14 are journalled. Slidable yoke 12 and pressure screws 13 are utilized for applying pressure to the housing during the rolling operation.

Table 15 is mounted in front of rolls 14 in any convenient manner and may be supported in part by frame 10 and in part by rear legs 16. Said table is provided with a plurality of flanges 17 on which thesheet of metal rests and is also provided with longitudinal and transverse strengtheningwebs 18 and 19 respectively.

The end of table 15 adjacent rolls 14 is provided with a plurality of apertures 20 in alignment with which bell crank levers 21 are mounted. Said levers carry pad holders 22 and pads 23 which are adapted topass through apertures 20 and to be pressed against the underside of the sheet to control the distribution of the cooling medium 'thereon. Pads 23 are provided with loose end flaps 23a which may dip in a bath of oil to be described and act as wicks to maintain oil on the pads. g

Each of said levers 21 is connected to a pivoted hand v lever 25 by means of rod 26. Said lever 25 is carried by the frame of the machine and is in a position readily accessible to the operator. A foot lever 27 is also connected to rod 26 by bell crank lever 28 and link 29 and extends to the rear of the machine in a position accessible to the foot of an operator. A locking means com-' prising latch 30 and detent 31 is provided for locking the lever in lowered position whereby pad 23 may be held against the sheet when desired. It is to be understood that a foot and hand lever 25 and 27 may be associated with each holder 22 so that the operator at the rear of table 15 can select the portion of the sheet to which he desires to apply cooling medium.

The cooling system includes a pipe 35 which terminates in a row of drip cocks 36 which are spaced acrosstable 15 in a positionto apply the cooling medium across the upper face of the sheet being rolled. A drip pan 37 is mounted underneath table 15 in a position to receive the cooling medium which has dropped through apertures 20. The front part of said pan preferably extends adjacent the lower roll 14 to receive the fluid which falls from the rear of the sheet at the end of the rolling operation. This fluid enters the drip pan through the recesses provided between the forward lip 38 of said pan and the forward end 39 of table 15. Overflow pipe 40 carries the lubricant from said pan to reservoir 41 from which it is pumped by pump 42 through pipe 35 to the drip cocks thereby completing the cycle. Pipe 40 may extend upwardly in pan 37 a sufficient distance to maintain the oil level above the flaps 23a when the pads are in their retracted position whereby said flaps rest in a bath of oil. Scrapers 43 may be applied to the upper and lower rolls 14 for preventing an accumulation of lubricant and cooling medium on the surface thereof.

I Rolls 14 are secured to a bearing member 45 which is journalled in housing 11. Said housing is provided with a pair of annular recesses 46 and 47 which communicate with pipes 48 and 49 respectively through which the cooling medium is circulated. Suitable packing 50 serves to retain the fluid in the proper recesses as hearing member 45 is rotated. Cap 51 may be secured to the end of bearing member 45 as by nuts 52 in engagement with one of said packing rings 50 for holding the same in its correct position.

Roll 14 and bearing member 45 are drilled to provide recesses 55 which communicate through transverse bores 56 with annular recesses 47. Pipe 57 is mounted axially of roller 14 within bore 55 and communicates through longitudinal bore 58 and transverse bores 59 with annular recesses 46. Said pipe 57 is held spaced from the sides of recess 55 by suitable spiders 60.

The cooling medium is applied to the rolls through pipe 61 (Fig. 3) thence through pipes 48 to recess 46 and through pipe 57 to recess 55 of the rolls, thence through bores 56 to recess 47 and pipe 49,-from which it is discharged This cooling medium may comprise water, oil or any other fluid which is well known in the art, the amount thereof being regulated as desired to maintain the rolls at the proper temperature. It is to be understood that any standard system of internal cooling may be employed and that the above is described by way of illustration only and forms no part of the present invention. Also solid rolls may be employed if the internal cooling is found to be unnecessary in a particula case.

During the rolling operation the operator controls drip cocks 36 so as to apply a given quantity of cooling medium, preferably a medium having lubricating properties, to the upper surface of. the metal sheet under treatment. The medium is applied directly to the surface of the sheet whence it is applied to the rolls and serves to extract the heat therefrom. After the passage of the sheet the excess medium falls onto pads 23, which may be made of felt or other suitable material for absorbing the fluid and applying the same to the sheet. Thereafter, the pads may be heldagainst the undersurface of the sheets by suitable manipulation of the levers 25 and 27 whereby a differential distribution of the cooling medium both at the top and bottom of the sheet may be obtained. The regulation of this distribution can be accomplished by the operator who observes the effects of the rollingand makes the necessary adjustments to correct for any unevenness which may occur.

In rolling wide sheets at comparatively heavy pressure it is essential to maintain the correct heat distribution longitudinally of the rolls in order to 'maintain the linear contact between the rolls and the sheet. Any unevenness will result in the buckling of the sheet which is readily apparent to the operator and may serve as a guide for maintaining the correct distribution.

If the required amount of cooling can be obtained by the medium which is applied from drip cocks 36, it is obvious that the internal cooling of the rolls may be omitted. However, it is usually convenient to extract a considerable portion of the heat interiorly of the rolls by means of water which is cheap and can be used in large quantities. The medium which is applied from the drip cocks is preferably of a lubricating character, such as kerosene or other hydrocarbon oil,

and serves to regulate the slippage of the roll as well as the heat content thereof. If only a single lubricant is used during the rolling operations this lubricant may be saved and recirculated by means of drip pan 37 and reservoir 41, hence only so much thereof may be added to the reservoir from time to time as is lost by evaporation or used up in the process.

It is obvious that if the proper cooling and lubrication can be obtained by applying the medium to the top of the sheet only, the pads may be dispensed with. In this case a certain amount of the medium will accumulate on table 15 and serve to lubricate the under-surface of the sheet. Levers 25 and 27 permit of both hand and foot operation. It is obvious, however, that one of these may be omitted if desired.

The invention has been shown as applied-to a two-high mill by way of illustration. It is obvious that it is equally applicable to other types of mills as for example, the cluster mill or fourhigh mill. Furthermore, the rolls illustrated are of conventional design and form no part of the present invention.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rolling mill having a pair of rolls, means for passing sheet metal through said rolls, a plurality of pads mounted below the normal line of travel of said metal, and means for selectively bringing said pads into contact with the face of said metal for controlling the distribution of a fluid medium thereover.

2. In a rolling mill having a pair of rolls, means for applying sheet metal thereto, a plurality of dn'p cocks spaced across said mill in a position to apply a fluid to the top surface of said metal prior to passage of said metal through said rolls distribution of said medium across the upper and flow of medium through said nozzles, a plurality of pads mounted below said table, means for selectively bringing said pads into engagement with the lower surface of said sheet and a drip pan mount= ed below said table in a position to receive the excess of said medium which fails to pass through said'rolls.

4. In a rolling mill, a pair of rolls, means for passing sheet metal therethrough, means for applying a lubricating medium to the upper face of the metal prior to passage of said metal through said rolls and means for utilizing the excess of said medium as a source of lubricant for the lower face of the succeeding sheets.

5. In a rolling mill including a pair of rolls, means for passing sheet metal therethrough, means for applying a lubricating medium to the upper face of the metal prior to passage of said metal through said rolls, a reservoir for receiving the excess of said medium and means for applying said medium from said reservoir to the lower face of succeeding sheets prior to passage through said rolls.

6. In a rolling mill including a pair of rolls, means for passing sheet metal therethrough, means for applying a lubricating medium to the upper face of the metal prior to passage of said metal through said rolls, a reservoir for receiving the excess of said medium, means for applying said medium from said reservoir to the lower face of succeeding sheets prior to passage through said rolls and means for independently controlling the lower faces of said sheets.

'7. The method of rolling sheets of ductile metals which comprises establishing a supply of medium having lubricating and cooling properties, applying said medium to the upper and lower faces of said sheet, independently controlling the application of said medium to the lower face of said sheet in narrow bands constituting only a minor portion of the entire width of said sheet, and then passing said sheet having controlled amounts of medium applied to the selected bands on the lower face of said sheet through rolls to reduce the thickness thereof in the presence of said lubricating and cooling medium whereby the slippage between the rolls and the sheet is controlled without tearing the sheet.

8. In a rolling mill including a pair of rolls,

means for passing sheet metal therethrough,

'means for applying a lubricating medium to the upper face of the metal prior to passage of said metal through said rolls, a reservoir for receiving the excess of said medium, means for applying said medium from the reservoir to the lower face of succeeding sheets comprising a plurality of pads adapted to absorb said medium and apply it to the sheets, and'means to selectively bring any one of the pads into contact with the lower face of a sheet. I

9. In a rolling mill including a pair of rolls,

means for passing sheet metal therethrough,

means for applying a lubricating medium to the upper face of the metal prior to passage of said metal through said rolls, a reservoir for receiving the excess of said medium, means for applying said medium from the reservoir to the lower face of succeeding sheets comprisinga plurality of pads adapted to absorb said medium and apply'it to the sheets, the width of the pads being restricted whereby the lubricating medium is applied to a sheet in a narrow band, and means to selectively and independently bring any one of the pads into contact with the lower face of a sheet.

10. Ina rolling mill including a pair of rolls, means for passing sheet metal therethrough, a source of supply of a medium having lubricating and cooling properties, means for applying the medium to the upper face of the metal prior to passage of said metal through the rolls, a reservoir for receiving the excess of said medium, means for recovering the excess of the medium and returning it to the source of supply, means for applying the medium from the reservoir to the lower face of succeeding sheets comprising a plurality of pads adapted to absorb the medium and apply it to the sheets, the width of the pads being restricted whereby the lubricating medium is applied to a sheet in a narrow band, and means to selectively and independently bring any one of the pads into contact with the lower face of a sheet.

RICHARD O. FARMER. 

